From gilded cities to dark snowy forests, frozen tundra to golden onion dome cathedrals, vast oil fields, sea coasts and farmlands, Russia is as diverse as it is expansive.

Russia an expansive land -- stretching from the borders with Estonia, Latvia, Belarus, Ukraine and Turkey in the west, passing Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and China, to reach the Pacific Ocean some 6000 kilometers further. A predominantly flat landscape is punctuated only by the Urals, which rise no higher than 1900 meters, and the more substantial ranges of the Far East. The landscape shifts from the northern forests to the black earth of Asia's grain basket. In Moscow, winter sets in by the end of November and lasts until early April. A historically significant city, Moscow is rich in culture and tradition.

For centuries, Russia has influenced history, art, religion, commerce, science and the politics of the world. The history of Russia is filled with larger than life personalities and legends from Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great to stories surronding the death of Czar Nicholas.

Today, Russia is the largest and most powerful of the states to emerge from the former Soviet Union. With 142 million people, Russia has the ninth largest population in the world. Russia has always been a multicultural nation, with 160 ethnic groups speaking over 100 languages. Western influence can be seen throughout Russia today, from fashion and music to technology.

The Toy and Its Story

Russia Heritage Trip

Gladney "I just want to know if anyone remembers me?" A child's unanswered question is one of the touching reasons the Russia team at Gladney has been working endlessly to organize a Russia Heritage Service Trip for two years.

Read the story.

To learn more about adopting from Russia, please request one of Gladney's free, comprehensive Adoption Information Packets. Make your request on-line or by calling 1-800-INT-ADOP.